If the Cowboys thought DeSean Jackson was a handful Monday night, wait until they see Greg Jennings on Sunday.

Jackson was a small, fast and inexperienced rookie wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. Jennings is a compact, fast and powerful wideout with polish for the Green Bay Packers.

Ask the Detroit Lions, who surrendered bombs of 62 and 60 yards to Jennings last week. He finished the day with six catches for a career-best 167 yards.

Ask the AFC West. In 2007, Jennings singed the Denver Broncos for an 82-yard touchdown, the Oakland Raiders for an 80-yarder, the Kansas City Chiefs for a 60-yarder and the San Diego Chargers for a 57-yarder.

More CowboysBrett Favre looked to Donald Driver for first downs last season. But Jennings emerged as his deep threat with 12 touchdowns and a 17.4-yard average. Jennings is becoming both the go-to guy and deep threat for new Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Driver and Jennings have 11 catches apiece through two games this season. But Jennings has 258 yards and a 23.5-yard average. Driver has 90 yards and an 8.2-yard average.

Jennings (5-11, 198 pounds) will be more difficult for the Cowboys' cornerbacks to contain at the line than the 167-pound Jackson, who ripped Dallas for six catches and 110 yards, including a 60-yard bomb.

If the Cowboys play back against Jennings, he is a slant route waiting to happen. And few in the NFL run them better or are more dangerous after the catch. He can turn a 10-yard reception into a 60-yard gain.

Jennings caught five passes for 87 yards and a touchdown last year in his first game against the Cowboys. He caught Rodgers' first career TD pass during that game on a nifty 11-yard curl and spin. He also turned a quick sideline out into a 43-yard gain earlier in the same possession. So the Cowboys have already seen what Jennings can do.

The Cowboys didn't bring their A game for Jackson. They'd better bring it for Jennings.

The way I see it, the Cowboys have a slight edge in this matchup because of their two big-play guys, Owens and Whitten. But is it possible that Jennings is now good enough to match what Owens does for the Cowboys? He's young and improving, while Owens is getting a little long in the tooth, though I admit that I still see no signs from Owens that he is in decline.

Owens is physically strong and outmuscles defenders for the ball and also can break tackles.

Jennings has a very strange quickness to him, which doesn't show up on paper but shows up on the football field. That's why he wasn't a first round draft pick, because nobody knew just how good he was.

Very different styles. For our O, Gregorious is better. We have a lot of slant and timing routes that rely more on YAC.

IRVING -- Sitting by his locker, with just a couple of Band-Aids on his injured shoulder, Cowboys tight end Jason Witten played a pretty convincing game of downplay.

It hurt a little bit.

A little sore.

It wasnt that bad.

Which would have been even slightly believable had Witten not bolted for the locker room after crash-landing on his shoulder late in the first half. Guys like Witten, guys who keep running when their helmets pop off like in a previous Eagles game, do not retreat to the locker room for a bump or bruise or owie.

And sure enough, further prodding revealed the Band-Aids were where he had taken the pain-killer shot to allow him to return. Witten did come back, in time to join Dallas next drive and finish two catches to set up a field goal before halftime.

I wanted to get back out there as quick as I can, Witten said. I think I got it good. Well look at it (Tuesday morning) and see what happens.

The truth is Wittens shoulder is not good. It is separated. And it is not likely to be right for a while, meaning he is going to have to play through this.

Witten will, just like he did Monday.

This will be dismissed by many, a gutty footnote in a long regular season. I think actually this is another sign of just how much mentally tougher this team is than a year ago. And Owner Jones has a theory as to why.

I think what we have this year is one that had to live with a disappointing end to last year, Owner Jones said. It has been emphasized that we are a team that hasnt been able to pass the test in the playoffs.

A few were trying to compare this to Monday Night Football in Buffalo a year ago. I disagree. That felt a bit fortuitous. This was the Cowboys imposing their will by games end, with a little help from Donovan McNabbs inexplicable double-pump on a handoff which led to Brian Westbrooks fumble.

But the Cowboys who jumped on it and who scored the touchdown and who stopped Donovan McNabb and Co. for a final time to seal this victory ... They won this game.

What was most impressive is how both sides of the ball, on defense and offense, bounced back from ugly moments. And plenty of ugly existed Monday. Owner Jones was not kidding when he talked about being fortunate to win. Breaks were made, though.

McNabb had been abusing this Cowboy defense until they tightened up to get back-to-back stops on Phillys final two possessions. And Tony Romo bounced back from his mistakes, an endzone fumble and interception, to lead his teammates to a 41-37 victory.

There are a couple of drives there where hed love to have them back. It shows how he has grown into a mature quarterback, Witten said. The way he led the team Alright guys, here is what the deal is offensively we have to score some point. He did a great job of keeping us all in the loop.

So was Witten trying to keep pace with Romo, who stayed in a game with a bleeding chin in Week 1?

Hes little bit tougher than I am, Witten said.

Wait. Really?

No, Im joking, he said.

Witten is one of the toughest SOBs in football and he reminded us all of this on Monday, which is a good sign that maybe this team will be tougher come playoffs.

News: Witten played the second half of Monday's win over the Eagles with a separated shoulder, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. "I wanted to get back out there as quick as I can," Witten said. "I think I got it good. We'll look at it (Tuesday morning) and see what happens."

Wow, so he'll actually try to play on Sunday... I shouldn't have expected any less from Witten. He's the toughest player they have. If he does play, I don't think he'll be much of a factor but we'll have to defend him like he's 100percent.

Wow, so he'll actually try to play on Sunday... I shouldn't have expected any less from Witten. He's the toughest player they have. If he does play, I don't think he'll be much of a factor but we'll have to defend him like he's 100percent.

You're underestimating Witten. He got hurt in the first half and ended that half with 2 catches for 17 yards. He ended the game with 7 catches and 110 yards. If he played like that in the game he got hurt in, he'll have more production a week after the injury.

that's not necessarily so. swelling will have set in, as well as stiffness. but, he's really really really tough. who knows how much this injury will affect him. my brother has a super-human pain tolerance. he played with a separated shoulder and said he didn't really even feel it. so, i expect witten to perform as if he were 100%

If our offensive line can keep the pressure off of Rodgers, we can score points on Dallas. Part of the reason is Rodgers play so far but most if it is Jennings, Driver, Jones, Martin, and Nelson will all be healthy and on the field together for the first time this season. Plus you have Donald Lee and an improved Brandon Jackson out of the backfield.

Just protect Rodgers and Rodgers needs to get the ball in the hands of our guys and this could be exciting.

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gbguy20 (9-Feb) : or get him to take a team friendly number now while promising him a massive marketing contract in retirement to make up for it

gbguy20 (9-Feb) : jimmy g set the record after 7 starts. you really think Rodgers value goes down? sign him now and make it cap friendly for the next 2 years. get him for 28.5 per now instead of 34 per year a year or 2

Zero2Cool (9-Feb) : He has multiple years left, he can wait until final year, like the process goes

Zero2Cool (9-Feb) : he didn't play like a Superstar vs Panthers, he doesn't deserve new deal.

Porforis (9-Feb) : This assumes Rodgers continues to play like a superstar and doesn't miss additional seasons, lowering his value entering the mid to tail end of his career.